Coaches Profiles:

Terry Rocavert head coach. TCAA Level 3 coaching accreditation.
Born in Balmain to Beryl and Don Rocavert who were both state level tennis players. Played his first competitive match at age 6 in the Balmain District championships.
Won the Shell Age championship twice in the under 15 age group and is the best tennis player produced from the Balmain district since Lew Hoad and Bill Bowrey.
Played on the professional circuit 1975-80 and attained a ranking in the world top 100.
Best known for leading John McEnroe two sets to one in the second round of Wimbledon in 1980 finally losing 4/6 7/5 6/7 7/6 6/3.
McEnroe and Borg went on to the final and played a match still regarded as one of the best Wimbledon finals ever.
Defeated Illie Nastase en route to an ATP tour event final in Columbus Ohio in 1979.
Career wins over Nastase, Yannick Noah, Tom Gorman, Hank Pfister, Peter MacNamara, Chris Lewis, Roger Taylor and Kim Warwick.
Played competitive matches against several of the top 10 players in the world at the time including Jimmy Connors, Guillemo Vilas, Brian Gottfried, Harold Soloman and Vitas Gerulaitis.
Made the semi-finals of the Australian Open Doubles in 1979.
Member of the “Last 8 Club” at the Australian Open.
Won the Australian Hard-court as well as the NSW Hard-court Championships.
Former NSW State Coach 1980-1989. First State Coach appointed in Australia. Considered by many to be one of, if not the most successful State Coaches ever employed in Australia.
Coached and influenced the careers of Todd Woodbridge, Jason Stoltenberg, Jamie Morgan, Rachel McQuillan, Rennae Stubbs, Janine Thompson and many others.
Has been head coach at Birchgrove since 1989.
Manages and coaches at the tennis courts with wife Kay, a Birchgrove local.
Has two children Carla and Ben.


Terry Leishman. TCANSW Level 1 coaching accreditation.
Also grew up, went to school and still lives in Balmain.
Played tennis in the Balmain Distict as a junior with Terry and Kay.
Was coached by Don Rocavert.
Has been a part of the coaching team at Birchgrove since 1989.
Terry has a unique coaching style and is highly regarded by the children and adults alike at the complex. He has mentored many teenagers over the years.


Richard Prendergast
Long term resident of Birchgrove, Richard joined our team in 1998.
Played comp tennis over many years in the area.
Is married to Julia and they have two children Ryan and Erica.
Richard is a very encouraging and motivating coach with a strong following of students.


Ben Rocavert
Former world ranked ITF junior and achieved a senior ATP ranking.
Played and trained during his formative years at Birchgrove.
Won junior events in Monte Carlo, Gonfaron and Montauban in France, West Palm Beach in Florida, finalist National Clay Courts Lead –In Melbourne, NSW Shell Age 18s. Winner and finalist of numerous NSW state doubles events.
Was Sports Star of the Year for the Northern Weekly Times newspaper in 2003.
Continues to play professional tournaments periodically.
Joined the coaching staff in 2006.
Ben offers players the chance to play with someone of an international standard. He has developed an excellent rapport with many of the children and adults. His focus is on consistency and fitness.